A Perfect Situation

Cathy busied herself in her rented flat going through parchments. Several boxes filled various rooms, since this was the first time she had been home long enough to focus on unpacking and settling. She had only rented out the flat a few months ago. She breathed a sigh of relief as she thought about the time free that she would have to set up her home.



She walked around in her bare feet and jeans, a simple black t shirt clinging to her frame. She poured herself a glass of wine and then pulled out her wand. Boxes flew to different rooms and settled themselves there.



She waved her wand again and the boxes in her front room began to unpack themselves. She would worry about the other rooms later. As it was, her belongings took random places, she would have to go and arrange them herself.



She eased onto her couch as various articles flew around her. She had a feeling dear, dear Hermione had once again failed to get pregnant and her visit to the hospital was a sad one. What must Severus think about his wife now? Maybe she found out that she couldn’t have children? That would certainly shake up his world. Severus was also one to do anything he wanted, and being told that he couldn’t have something…….



KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!!!!!!



She had only been in town a few days, who could possibly know she had moved here? Standing to open the door, she smiled as she saw Severus. He was wearing a frown but it didn’t deter her.



“Severus, won’t you come in.” She stepped aside as he entered, and avoided empty boxes.



“Sorry about that.” She waved her wand and they shrunk down, floating away to the rubbish bin. “I’m still unpacking. Would you like a drink?”



“No, I would not. I would like to know why you tried to find out about my wife.” He said fixing her with a glare.



“Find out about your wife? I made a simple inquiry and was threatened……”



“Don’t give me that. Neville Longbottom has been friends with Hermione since the age of eleven. He is not her lover, he has never been her lover, and for you to imply that insults him, my wife and me. Now what were you doing trying to probe for information?” His harshness was coming through.



“You make it sound so sordid.” She said, trying to tease him.



“With you, it always is. Now explain.”



“Explain what? That I was trying to protect you. I was merely concerned for a friend.”



“Hermione is not your friend.”



“I know that, nor do I wish to claim her as one. I was referring to you.” She took a step foreword and reached out a hand, but he ignored it.



“I am not you friend.”



“We have shared secrets, happy times and parts of our lives not to mention our bodies Severus, how can you say I am not you friend?”



“The way you have behaved recently leads me to conclude so. I am married and you have no respect for that.”



“I don’t have respect for a woman that demands her husband leave all his friends……”



“She didn’t demand anything. I chose to move on. And it wasn’t with everyone, it was only with you.”



Cathy stayed silent for a moment then looked hard at him. “You only cut off friendship with me?”



“That’s right.”



“Why?”



“You were the only one who wanted to continue as if nothing had changed.” He told her simply.



“Nothing has changed!” She shouted.



“I’m married!” He shouted back.



“So!”



“So? That’s all you have to say. I’m married and knowing this you still wanted to fuck on occasion?”



“You did it when we were together!” She was turning red in the face.



“I did not, you chose never to believe me. But I am not here to discuss the past with you. It’s over. I am concerned with you trying to gain information that is none of your business.”



“You mean about your supposed attempts to have a baby?” Severus’s clutched his fists and she knew she had him at a weak spot. “Is she really trying? Maybe she’s taking birth control so she won’t get pregnant and she can blame the whole thing on you.”



Severus relaxed and forced himself to take a deep breathe. “Cathy, that sounds like something you would do.” He turned and walked out of the flat. it was pointless to talk to her anymore.



Cathy remained fuming in her flat for some time after he left. It angered her even more to know that Severus had severed his friendship with her and only her.



She took a photo album that had rested on the floor and slowly turned the pages. Images of her and Severus happy, and loving to each other stared back at her. She smiled thinking of her longest relationship.



She and Severus had meet through a mutual friend, but he was always doing things that made her wonder at his feelings. Late nights out with the boys, weekends away supposedly to his family, letters coming and going. She would ask what he was doing, but he claimed that his nights out with the boys were just that. His weekends away were genuinely to his family, and the letters were from friends and business contacts.



He must have thought her stupid. She knew he was seeing another women at his nights out, but when she asked his friends they refused to tell her. She asked to come to his weekend with his family and he always refused. She asked to read his letters and she was told to mind her own business. When she confronted him with accusations she was told that she was overreacting.



He said that when he went out with his friends, nobody brought the wives or the girlfriends, it was time spent among themselves. His parents were old fashioned and if he brought her with him, not only would they be sleeping in separate rooms, they would assume he was thinking about marriage and he was too young for that. He said his letters were personal and some relating to business were confidential.



She found it hard to trust him, and his continued refusals made her angry. She started watching his every move, but instead of reassuring her that he loved her, he became more and more distant. Eventually all they did was argue and accuse each other of wrongdoings, and they split up.



Cathy, though was upset at having lost her lover. Severus was wonderful in bed and she knew he thought her just as enthusiastic. They ran into each other a month or two after their break up and had explosive sex. It was animalistic and intense and set the pattern for the years to come. When Cathy was in town again, and both were single they would meet and take care of needs that arouse.



Until Cathy showed up as usual at his door. He refused her hug and introduced his wife. She had no idea he had been seeing anyone, and it was a shock to her senses. She still wondered why he married in the first place. He was never one to think about commitment on a serious level.



He had to have married her for reasons other than love. He claimed to love her now, but she knew Severus and it had to be something else. She closed the album and slipped in on the shelf. Waving her wand, several other albums and books filled up remained shelves. She lost herself in settling her flat for the moment.













Severus returned home, with a heavy heart. Cathy was proving to be a bigger problem then he thought. Hermione would have to be told but not now. Not while she was still so sad. If this upcoming trip helped her spirits then he would let her know about the letter and what Cathy had attempted, when she was able to think with more restraint. For now her focus should be on recovery.



When she woke they had a light dinner and he told her that he wanted to take a small trip after her appointment. She refused at first, not feeling up to traveling but Severus persisted. Her appointment with Neville was in at the end of the week, that would give him time to arrange it all. She wouldn’t have to do anything. He was going to take her to a country cottage in Ireland, where a fair as planned soon and they could relax.



His enthusiasm was contagious and she agreed to go if Neville cleared her. Severus saw it as a good sign. He spent the next two days making plans and getting ready. By the time her appointment came around they would be ready.